Child clothing device with reinforced zipper access, method of use, and method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

A child&#39;s romper or other one-piece clothing outfit which has a reinforced zipper between the legs of the garment to allow for quick and easy access for changing the child&#39;s diaper. There is no need to completely undress the child. The zipper element runs from one ankle to the other and allows the child&#39;s legs to easily be taken out of the garment for quick and easy diaper changes. The zipper element is reinforced to the inseam of the garment and includes a top stitch around the edges of the zipper to hold it down Ankle cuffs are used at each ankle end point and stitches are placed over the portion of the zipper tape attached to the ankle cuff. An embodiment may not use ankle cuffs and allows complete opening of the garment from ankle to ankle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/925,821 Filed Oct. 25, 2019, which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a clothing for children,methods of manufacture and method for use thereof, and more specificallyto children's rompers and other clothing having zipper access forcleaning and changing of diapers.

2. Description of the Related Art

Small children and babies require frequent diaper changes. Removingentire articles of clothing or dealing with troublesome snaps onone-piece garments can be a hassle and take too much time. What isneeded is a clothing solution for easily and effectively allowing forquick and easy access for changing a child's diaper.

Heretofore there has not been available a system or method forchildren's clothing with the advantages and features of the presentinvention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a child's romper or otherone-piece clothing outfit which has a reinforced zipper between the legsof the garment to allow for quick and easy access for changing thechild's diaper. There is no need to completely undress the child. Thezipper element runs from one ankle to the other and allows the child'slegs to easily be taken out of the garment for quick and easy diaperchanges. The zipper element is reinforced to the inseam of the garmentand includes a top stitch around the edges of the zipper to hold it downAnkle cuffs are used at each ankle end point and stitches are placedover the portion of the zipper tape attached to the ankle cuff.

An embodiment may forego the use of ankle cuffs, such as in a child'sromper with shortened legs. In such an embodiment, the zipper may fullydisengage at the end, allowing complete separation between the topportion of the garment and the bottom portion.

An embodiment may also include a gastrostomy tube (g-tube) accesssecured by another zipper element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating variousobjects and features thereof.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view as indicated in FIG. 1 showing a zipperelement at a first position.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof showing the zipper element at asecond position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof showing the zipper element at athird position.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the interior of the leg portions of theembodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the exterior of the leg portions of theembodiment of FIG. 4, with the zipper element at the third position.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention with a zipper element in a second position.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view thereof with the zipper element in asecond position.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of another alternative embodimentincluding a g-tube access with a zipper element in a first position.

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view thereof with the zipper element in asecond position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I. Introduction andEnvironment

As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosedherein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects aremerely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart how to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description forconvenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up,down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientatedin the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly”refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometriccenter of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof.Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction oftravel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the wordsspecifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similarmeaning.

II. Preferred Embodiment Child Garment System 2 with Reinforced InseamZipper 10

FIGS. 1-6 show a preferred embodiment of the present invention featuringan improved child's garment system 2 with ankle-to-ankle zipper 10 foreasy access for removing and changing a child's diaper. The zipper isreinforced at the ankle cuff 8 to prevent accidental opening of thegarment. The garment 4 has a pair of legs 6 ending in the cuffs 8, withthe zipper 10 allowing a large opening from cuff-to-cuff when the zipperis opened.

As shown in FIG. 1, the zipper 10 is a closed-end zipper which mayinclude a stopper 18 which prevents the zipper from completely opening.In a preferred embodiment, no stopper is necessary as the cuff 8functions as a stopper and is reinforced with stitching as shown in FIG.5. The stopper 18 may have a receiver 20 for receiving the zipper slider12 when it is moved to the end of the zipper 10. As shown, the inside 16of the legs 6 are closed when the zipper slider 12 is in the originalposition adjacent to the top stops 22.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom plan view of the orientation of the zipper 10 andthe garment 4 as shown in FIG. 1. Stitching 30 can be seen securing thezipper 10 to the interior of the legs 6. FIG. 3 shows the zipper slider12 being pulled across the zipper 10 by the pull tab 14 opening theteeth 24, showing the opening 26 between the legs 6. FIG. 4 shows thezipper slider 12 at the bottom stopper 18 forming a completeankle-to-ankle opening 26. Alternatively, and preferably, there is nobottom stopper 18 and the cuff 8 acts as the stopper and renders theneed for the stopper unnecessary. This is shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 shows the zipper 10 from the interior of the legs 6. The cuffs 8are sewn to the zipper tape 28 via a reinforced stitch 30, and continuesto be reinforced via stitching 30 about the entirety of the zipper tape28. This is to prevent the zipper from coming apart or fraying overtime. To manufacture the reinforced zipper element, the zipper is sewninto the inseam of the garment. After that, a top stitch is placedaround the edges of the zipper to hold it down. Ankle cuffs 8 areattached at each ankle of the legs 6, and the garment is turned insideout. While inside out, stitches and back stitches 30 are placed over theportion of the zipper tape 28 attached at the ankle cuff. This processreinforces the zipper for superior security.

FIG. 6 shows how the opening 38 formed by unzipping the zipper 10 allowseasy access to the diaper 32. The front portion 34 of the legs 6 and therear portion 36 of the legs 6 are separated, allowing the diaper to bechanged without removing the legs 6 and cuffs 8.

III. Alternative Embodiment Child Garment System 102 with Shortened LegElements

As shown in FIGS. 7-9, an alternative embodiment child garment system102 of the present invention which is a romper 104 which has shortenedlegs 106 for use in warmer weather. In this embodiment, the zipperelement 110 is not reinforced as there are no ankle cuffs available forreinforcement. Instead, the garment is much faster to unzip for accessto diaper changes.

Like the first embodiment, the zipper element 110 includes a pair of topstoppers 122 and a slider 112 with a pull tab 114. The bottom stopper isreplaced with a retainer box 118 with an insertion pin 120 and boxpin140 allowing it to be completely separated when the slider 112 is pulledacross. FIG. 8 shows how the opening 138 allows easy access to thediaper 132 by separating the front portion 134 of the leg 106 and therear portion 136 of the leg 106. FIG. 9 shows how the entire inseamopening is formed by unzipping the zipper 10, pulling the slider 112across the teeth 124, and separating the retainer box 118 and theinsertion pin 120.

IV. Alternative Embodiment Child Garment System 202 with G-Tube AccessZipper 210

FIGS. 10-11 provide another alternative embodiment child garment system202 featuring a garment 204 which shows how either of the previousembodiments could be further modified to include a g-tube access zipper210. This zipper includes a bottom stopper 218 and top stoppers 222. Thezipper slider 212 is pulled across the zipper teeth 224 by the pull tab214 forming an access opening 238, allowing easy access to a g-tube 242which can otherwise be difficult to manage, requiring complete removalof a garment to access and check. The legs 206 can include one of theankle-to-ankle zipper embodiments described above.

It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects ofthe invention have been shown and described, the invention is notlimited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. A child garment systemcomprising: a garment with a first leg having a first ankle and a secondleg having a second ankle; an opening from said first ankle to saidsecond ankle, said ankle selectively openable and closable by a zipperaffixed to said first leg and said second leg; said zipper comprising afirst position wherein said opening is closed and a second positionwherein said opening is open; said zipper comprising a zipper tape, saidzipper tape secured to an interior of said first leg and said secondleg; and wherein when said zipper is in said second position, saidopening provides access to a diaper within said garment and isconfigured to allow removal of said diaper without further removal ofsaid garment.
 2. The child garment system of claim 1, furthercomprising: said first leg ending in a first cuff and said second legending in a second cuff; said second cuff configured to prevent saidzipper from separating at said second position; and said first cuff andsaid second cuff reinforced with stitching to secure said zipper.
 3. Thechild garment system of claim 1, further comprising: said zippercomprising a retainer box and an insertion pin in proximity with an endof said second leg; and whereby said retainer box and said insertion pinallow said zipper to completely separate at said end of said second leg,such that said opening is formed by a first flap comprising a topportion of said first leg and said second leg and a second flapcomprising a bottom portion of said first leg and said second leg. 4.The child garment system of claim 1, further comprising: a gastrostomytube (g-tube) access opening secured by a g-tube zipper having a firstorientation and a second orientation; wherein said first orientationcomprises said zipper being closed, thereby closing said access opening;wherein said second orientation comprises said zipper being unzipped andopened, thereby opening said access opening; and said access openingconfigured to provide access to a g-tube within said garment.
 5. Amethod of accessing and changing a diaper within a child garment, themethod comprising the steps: applying said child garment, said childgarment comprising a one-piece clothing item having a first leg having afirst ankle and a second leg having a second ankle, and a closure zippersecuring an opening from said first ankle to said second ankle;accessing said opening by unzipping said closure zipper from said firstankle to said second ankle; changing a diaper through said opening; andclosing said opening by zipping said closure zipper from said secondankle to said first ankle.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:wherein said first leg ending in a first cuff and said second leg endingin a second cuff; wherein said second cuff configured to prevent saidzipper from separating at said second position; and wherein said firstcuff and said second cuff reinforced with stitching to secure saidzipper.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps:unzipping a second zipper securing a g-tube opening; accessing a g-tubewithin said g-tube opening; and zipping closed said second zipper,thereby closing said g-tube opening.
 8. A method of manufacturing agarment, the method comprising the steps: providing a garment having afirst leg ending in a first cuff and a second leg ending in a secondcuff; said first leg and said second leg forming an inseam; securing anopening from said first cuff to said second cuff about said inseam witha zipper closure comprising zipper tape sewn to an inside surface ofsaid inseam; and securing said zipper tape about said first cuff andsaid second cuff with reinforced stitching.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein said second cuff is configured to function as a stopper toprevent said zipper from completely unzipping.